U/E NHIA End of 2017 review meeting held in Bolgatanga

In spite of the sustainability challenges that the National Health Scheme is facing, measures must be put in place to ensure that the NHIS is not left for dead. 

The NHIS continues to play a critical role towards attaining universal health coverage in Ghana albeit confronted by challenges that could potentially collapse the scheme. 

Averting this possible predicament will largely depend on concerted efforts of key stakeholders such as health insurance managers, service providers, insurance subscribers, policy makers and political actors. 

Established by an Act of Parliament in 2003, Act 650, the NHIS is an initiative by government to secure financial risk protection against the cost of healthcare services for all in Ghana. 

This came to light at the 2017 end of year performance review meeting of the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, in Bolgatanga. 

Speaking on the theme “ Delivering on the new strategic direction for the sustainability of the NHIS”, the Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Frank Fuseini Adongo, said upon assumption of office, the Nana-Addo led administration set out to over haul the NHIS in accordance with the promise they made to the people in the country. 

He said strategic meetings were held with key stakeholders and at all levels to diagnose the associated challenges and more importantly, proffer solutions. 

These meetings, he noted, have so far been revealing. 

He said while they are re-structuring the NHIS through automation and management audits, the also took steps to resuscitate the scheme by offsetting the one-point-two billion Ghana cedis debt owed service providers and almost staying current on reimbursement.  

The Deputy Regional Minister commended the Managers of the various districts of the NHIS for meeting the national target. 

The Upper East Regional Manager of the NHIS, Sabastian Alagpulinsa, said the scheme has the best and most generous benefits package in Africa. 

He said the scheme covers about ninety five percent of all diseases conditions in the country which include outpatient services, in-patient services, oral health, maternal care and emergency services. 

These, according to him, resulted in a substantial increase in access to health care services not only in the region but the country at large. 

Mr. Alagpulinsa the region has registered five hundred and sixty nine thousand, eight hundred and twenty-nine members from a target of five hundred and seventy-eight thousand, eight hundred and thirty-three representing ninety-eight percent of their regional membership target and forty-seven percent of their population in the year under review. 

This, he noted, will help a large number of their customer’s access health care and will also propel Ghana towards attaining universal health coverage by 2030.  

He announced that three districts in the region have been selected for the pilot of family planning for inclusion in the NHIS benefit package. 

These districts include Nabdam, Bawku west and Bolgatanga Municipal. 

The Regional NHIS manager noted that his outfit intends to create offices in the newly created districts to enhance the geographical access to their customers. 

Mr. Alagpulinsa said another remarkable achievement is in the area of premium mobilization. 

He stated that the region mobilized two million, one hundred and thirty-five thousand, eight hundred and sixty-nine from a regional target of two million, seven hundred and ninety-two thousand, two hundred and thirty-eight representing seventy-six percent and ranking fourth out of the ten regions in the country. 

Mr. Alagpulinsa mentioned delays in reimbursement of service providers resulting in the provision of poor quality health services, weak human resource capacity, fraud and corruption, low premium payments, increasing costs of reimbursement and false claims submitted by some credentialed health providers, inadequate supply of ribbons, printers and computers resulting in long queues and long waiting time at the district offices. 

Mr. Alagpulinsa called on players in the health sector to help sustain the NHIA. 

Participants were drawn from the various districts of the NHIA among other functionaries.

Story by GBC'S Ayammah Samuel

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